Museveni Promotes Kafeero, Mwesigwa to AIGP

President Yoweri Museveni has promoted seven Senior Commissioners of Police (SCP) to Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP), the highest rank in the Uganda police force.

Former Kampala Metropolitan Police Commanders Frank Mwesigwa currently serving as Director of Operations Service (OPS) and Moses Kafeero currently serving as Director of Human Resource Development (HRD) are among the seven SCPs promoted. 

Others include Felix Baryamwisaki serving as Director of Information Communication Technology (ICT), Hadijah Namutebi serving as Director of Welfare and Production, Charles Kataratambi heading the Legal Directorate, David Waswa, Director of Counter-Terrorism Police (CT) and Ubaldo Wasswa Director Political Commissariat (CPC).

The promotions were confirmed by Assistant Commissioner of Police –ACP Kituuma Rusoke, the Police Spokesperson. The promotion means AIGPs who were recently told to step aside after the expiry of their contracts have no chance of bouncing back.

Among the AIGPs who have been hopeful that they would bounce back include Grace Akullo who until a fortnight ago was Director Interpol, Charles Birungi formerly heading the Welfare and Production Directorate, Fadhir Kaali formerly heading Fire and Rescue Directorate, Richard Edyegu formerly heading Logistics and Engineering Directorate, and Erasmus Twaruhuukwa heading Legal Directorate.

Mwesigwa is remembered for his arrest of the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate on November 18, 2020, which caused nationwide protests leading to the shooting to death of more than 50 people.

Namutebi, Mwesigwa, Baryamwisaki and Kafeero were promoted to SCP in 2022.

Their rise to AIGP has taken only two years. However, for relatively young police officers such as Mwesigwa and Namutebi, their attainment of the AIGP rank means they can exit the police force anytime. Once one reaches the AIGP rank, he or she starts serving on contract. 

The President first gives an AIGP a three-year contract and it is at his discretion to renew or not. In the case where the President doesn’t renew the contract, the AIGP leaves office as soon as the contract has expired.

In cases where the President decides to renew the contract, it can only be for two extra years. Very few police officers have been lucky enough to serve for more than five years in the force after attaining the highest rank of AIGP.